What is a charismatic catholic?

[Faith1960]

They are all huggy huggy and speaking gibberish. Frankly, after attending one Life in the Spirit session that put me off that group for good.

LOL. I attended Life in the Spirit sessons. I absolutely loved it – until we got to praying over various people. There was no speaking in tongues and no one there was any huggier than usual, but I really didn’t like how the program turned toward the end.

 

[bkovacs]

I am a catholic and don’t have any specific adjective describing what kind of catholic I am.

So when I read in a profile that someone is a Catholic and also say they are “charismatic” what does that mean?

Is a charismatic catholic different than a regular ordinary catholic? better or worse?

I just need some clarification as to what is meant by a charismatic catholic.

Does that mean the person speaks in tongues, goes to some sort of charismatic prayer meetings? Has some special gifts? Raise their hands like the priest when they pray the Our Father at Mass? Hold hands with others during the Our Father?

And I also have to ask why raise hands only during the Our Father and not the other prayers at Mass?

How do I know if I too might be a charismatic? And how do I find out?

Will that make me a better catholic? Closer to God? Is this a special kind of ‘spirituality’.

Could someone knowledgable enlighten because I have heard and read so many different things I honestly don’t know what to make of it all.

Thank you for any help.

A Catholic who wants to be a Pentecostal in communion with Rome. My only guess. A post Vatican 2 fad.

 

[thistle]

LOL. I attended Life in the Spirit sessons. I absolutely loved it – until we got to praying over various people. There was no speaking in tongues and no one there was any huggier than usual, but I really didn’t like how the program turned toward the end.

The one I attended was really huggy huggy. I was in RCIA at the time in Singapore and all the RCIA groups in the city had to attend this meeting. There were about 500 folks from the various RCIA groups plus those who were the regulars.
Halfway through the meeting everyone was told to stand up and try to hug everyone in the hall. Can you imagine the chaos that ensued.
Then before the meeting ended we were all instructed to sit with our mouths wide open and start making sounds and the lay leader and his sidekicks came around listening to the sounds we were making to see if we could speak in tongues.
The whole thing was ridiculous and could easily have put off people going further in RCIA.
That’s why I informed the priest about this and the issues I mentioned in an earlier post.

 

[Faith1960]

The one I attended was really huggy huggy. I was in RCIA at the time in Singapore and all the RCIA groups in the city had to attend this meeting. There were about 500 folks from the various RCIA groups plus those who were the regulars.
Halfway through the meeting everyone was told to stand up and try to hug everyone in the hall. Can you imagine the chaos that ensued.
Then before the meeting ended we were all instructed to sit with our mouths wide open and start making sounds and the lay leader and his sidekicks came around listening to the sounds we were making to see if we could speak in tongues.
The whole thing was ridiculous and could easily have put off people going further in RCIA.
That’s why I informed the priest about this and the issues I mentioned in an earlier post.

Wow. That’s nothing like what I’d experienced. I wouldn’t blame anyone in RCIA wanting to run if they’d witnessed that.

 

[Orchanian]

It is really unfortunate that the Charismatic movement has had such problems. I am part of a Catholic Charismatic group in my parish. I went through the Life in the Spirit seminar this past summer. I didn’t have any of the negatives that were described by others. The leaders of our group are very careful to keep the priest informed of what we’re doing, and when we were prayed over, it was the priest (along with some of our leaders) who laid hands and prayed over each person. Charisms are not only speaking in tongues, but many other gifts as well. It’s unlikely that someone will have all of the charisms. I don’t feel that I have the gift of tongues, but I do have other gifts.

One of the things we learned in the seminar is that the purpose of the charisms of the Holy Spirit is for the edification of the church, not for our own benefit (which is not to say that we don’t also benefit). Those who deliberately draw attention to themselves are not serving the Spirit.

I find it inspiring to be with this small group of charismatics. We pray, sing, and learn from each other. One of our goals is to use the power of prayer to strengthen the people in our church and our parish as a whole. I know that is happening.

As for the question about being a “better Christian” (not sure that’s the actual phrase used) if you are a Charismatic. It’s not better or worse, just a different way to be in a relationship with God. I have felt the power of the Holy Spirit in my life and it is wonderful. I know others who have tremendous faith, but it’s different from mine. It’s all good.

You can have the gifts of the Holy Spirit simply by asking for them and not resisting what He wants to give you. You don’t have to attend a Life in the Spirit seminar, but you can. If your goal is to grow in your relationship with God, then however you do that is great. Ask God to take you wherever He wants you to go next. Pray to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - together and separately.

One more comment. The Holy Spirit is given to us throughout our lives through the sacraments. But He is unleashed when we ask for his power to be more fully realized in our lives and our souls.

 

[littleone]

I am a catholic and don’t have any specific adjective describing what kind of catholic I am.

So when I read in a profile that someone is a Catholic and also say they are “charismatic” what does that mean?

Is a charismatic catholic different than a regular ordinary catholic? better or worse?
They are not better or worse because ONLY GOD judges who is or isn’t rightsious.
ALL are called but few come, in which way they do.

I just need some clarification as to what is meant by a charismatic catholic.
Charismatic catholic is one who has realised that there is a relationhood with the Holy Spirit that we can have, and in doing this the activating of the gifts offered becomes more clear. Eg, catholics have a tendency to say (generally speaking) " only the penticostals use these" or “we don’t use those we go for the gift of “love” in the catholic church”.

Does that mean the person speaks in tongues, goes to some sort of charismatic prayer meetings? Has some special gifts? Raise their hands like the priest when they pray the Our Father at Mass? Hold hands with others during the Our Father?
Yes they are gifts and they are all special because they come from God, they are special because some receive them some don’t willingly or because God designs it that way,

And I also have to ask why raise hands only during the Our Father and not the other prayers at Mass?
It is the spirit in and on the person, who takes over and gives the desire to give all in the prayer to God. Lifting up as such is letting go.

How do I know if I too might be a charismatic? And how do I find out?
All are called to become close to God and some find it in joining a group such as charismatic others in joining a ( as I am) order like the 3rd order of the Carmelites, but i startediin the charismatic renewell in the 70s. Go to a group and find out how you feel but don’t just go once try it for a few months and also ask questions while there.

Will that make me a better catholic? Closer to God? Is this a special kind of ‘spirituality’.
THIS QUESTION MIGHT BE ONE THAT COULD LEAD YOU AWAY FROM THE PATH GOD HAS YOU ON, I WOULD ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT IT AND NOT LET THIS HAPPEN.

Could someone knowledgable enlighten because I have heard and read so many different things I honestly don’t know what to make of it all.
To desire and to yearn or to hunger for more and more of the Holy Spirit is the Love of God in you relating to you hunger. Ask God to give you more to send people to assist you .
But…satan might come clothed in white to confuse you. So be guided by others strong in the faith, you will know them by their workes they do in and for the church, as well as their need for more prayer time and possibly in a charismatic gathering.
Thank you for any help.

Godbless
littleone

 

[Janet_Baker]

As one who’s “been there, done that and won’t do so again”, I can add some perspective. Let me assure you that the “charismatic” enjoys absolutely no advantage whatsoever when it comes to grace, spiritual vitality, etc. Why? Because we all have access to the Sacraments. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. He Himself is God; He is not some force or fire that can somehow be tapped into by laying on of hands. He is bestowed by the bishop upon receipt of Confirmation; that’s true for all of us Catholics who have been confirmed.

I ceased my identification as a charismatic because they emphasize way too heavily the supposed importance of “experience”. Of course we thought it was a spiritual “experience” but in reality it was more of an emotional thrill. We were also erroneously urged to “let go” and not engage intellectually with what was happening to us as we “prayed”. Does anyone see THAT booby-trap? It took me a while, too. We are made in the image and likeness of God primarily through intellect and will. Our emotions, being in the realm of passions, are to be subservient to the intellect and will. Thanks to original sin, that order was usurped and has taken on pseudo-spiritual trappings. I saw mention of “resting in the spirit” a while back. There is a prime example of spiriutal danger (perhaps demonically inspired) being mistaken for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not knock people on the floor. When I saw that was a beginning of the blinders coming off my eyes.

Long way of saying that “charismatic” is at best extraneous and unnecessary. We have the Sacraments. We have the Magisterium. What more do we need? In fact, I’d say that a desire for something more than that is a dangerous lust for pseudo-spiritual (in actually, quite sensual) experience.

 

[Spencerian]

As one who’s “been there, done that and won’t do so again”, I can add some perspective. Let me assure you that the “charismatic” enjoys absolutely no advantage whatsoever when it comes to grace, spiritual vitality, etc. Why? Because we all have access to the Sacraments. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. He Himself is God; He is not some force or fire that can somehow be tapped into by laying on of hands. He is bestowed by the bishop upon receipt of Confirmation; that’s true for all of us Catholics who have been confirmed.

I ceased my identification as a charismatic because they emphasize way too heavily the supposed importance of “experience”. Of course we thought it was a spiritual “experience” but in reality it was more of an emotional thrill. We were also erroneously urged to “let go” and not engage intellectually with what was happening to us as we “prayed”. Does anyone see THAT booby-trap? It took me a while, too. We are made in the image and likeness of God primarily through intellect and will. Our emotions, being in the realm of passions, are to be subservient to the intellect and will. Thanks to original sin, that order was usurped and has taken on pseudo-spiritual trappings. I saw mention of “resting in the spirit” a while back. There is a prime example of spiriutal danger (perhaps demonically inspired) being mistaken for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not knock people on the floor. When I saw that was a beginning of the blinders coming off my eyes.

Long way of saying that “charismatic” is at best extraneous and unnecessary. We have the Sacraments. We have the Magisterium. What more do we need? In fact, I’d say that a desire for something more than that is a dangerous lust for pseudo-spiritual (in actually, quite sensual) experience.

Excellent comments, Janet.

God, as you have said, is more subtle in His use of the Spirit in us. It can be flamboyant, but it often is not. When Christ had a serious groupie problem after the miracle of the fish and loaves, people asking him to “do another miracle!”, Christ didn’t perform, or make fire spout from his hands, or speak many different languages. He kept to His message, revealing His Body and Blood as the true miracle He would perform for all.

I hate to be skeptical when discussing this topic, but subtlety is more the Lord’s work than not, and I fear some charismatics are misguided.

 

[thistle]

As one who’s “been there, done that and won’t do so again”, I can add some perspective. Let me assure you that the “charismatic” enjoys absolutely no advantage whatsoever when it comes to grace, spiritual vitality, etc. Why? Because we all have access to the Sacraments. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. He Himself is God; He is not some force or fire that can somehow be tapped into by laying on of hands. He is bestowed by the bishop upon receipt of Confirmation; that’s true for all of us Catholics who have been confirmed.

I ceased my identification as a charismatic because they emphasize way too heavily the supposed importance of “experience”. Of course we thought it was a spiritual “experience” but in reality it was more of an emotional thrill. We were also erroneously urged to “let go” and not engage intellectually with what was happening to us as we “prayed”. Does anyone see THAT booby-trap? It took me a while, too. We are made in the image and likeness of God primarily through intellect and will. Our emotions, being in the realm of passions, are to be subservient to the intellect and will. Thanks to original sin, that order was usurped and has taken on pseudo-spiritual trappings. I saw mention of “resting in the spirit” a while back. There is a prime example of spiriutal danger (perhaps demonically inspired) being mistaken for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not knock people on the floor. When I saw that was a beginning of the blinders coming off my eyes.

Long way of saying that “charismatic” is at best extraneous and unnecessary. We have the Sacraments. We have the Magisterium. What more do we need? In fact, I’d say that a desire for something more than that is a dangerous lust for pseudo-spiritual (in actually, quite sensual) experience.

 

[Boxcar]

A charismatic Catholic is one who is in touch with the Holy Spirit. On the first Pentecost, Jesus sent his Spirit to his mother and his disciples and the disciples were filled with the gifts of the Spirit; they experienced peace, joy, and all the charisms or gifts so that they were able to tell the hostile world about Jesus with confidence and courage. A charismatic Catholic of today has a special devotion to the Holy Spirit and is the recipient of the same gifts which enable that person to share his/her knowledge and joy of a relationship with Jesus. Our Catholic faith of itself is a source of peace, wisdom and joy, and when Jesus’ spirit is central, we are transformed, and especially enabled to share all that we have received. Usually, one transformed by the Spirit desires to be with others who share their experiences and charismatic prayer groups are formed–but you certainly can be a charismatic Catholic without being part of a prayer group. By the way, you mention speaking in tongues. It is believed that speaking in tongues is the threshold gift and the other gifts as prophesy, discernment, knowledge, etc., follow the reception of that gift. To become a charismatic Catholic is a faith filled and joyful journey.

***In touch w/ the Spirit that teaches us to love god first and above all , which leads us to repentance then to mass, God is Pure Spirit, we worship in spirit and Truth. When I was prayed over by a healer, i noticed that charismatic, is being open to the Spirit in all humility. Without God I am nothing. enough said. ***

 

[Morgan2375]

IMHO:

1. Catholics who participates in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal often call themselves charismatic Catholics.
2. A charismatic Catholic can be characterized as a Catholic who’s goal is to live more in the Spirit than in the flesh as Paul says “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2: 20) so as to live as much as they can in the fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4: 13).
3. God re-created, cleansed and sanctified, me through Baptism, healed my soul through reconciliation, made me strong through Confirmation, and sustains me daily with spiritual food at Eucharist.
4. I am first and foremost a child of God who has attended Life In the Spirit Seminars, prayer meetings, Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conferences, etc.
5. Through the New and Everlasting Covenant God wrote His law on my heart making my body a temple of the Holy Spirit. At Confirmation He anointed me in Christ with holy oil and the gifts were sealed within me. I cooperate with God in nurturing these gifts by practicing as much as God’s grace and my will accepts, the 7 virtues: Prudence, Justice,
   Fortitude, temperance, Faith, Hope, Charity.

Please correct me if I’m wrong with examples in scripture or oral tradition but if at baptism I received God’s Law, His Word, the Holy Spirit, and since the giver is greater than the gift, I also received the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

 

[littleone]

As one who’s “been there, done that and won’t do so again”, I can add some perspective. Let me assure you that the “charismatic” enjoys absolutely no advantage whatsoever when it comes to grace, spiritual vitality, etc. Why? Because we all have access to the Sacraments. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. He Himself is God; He is not some force or fire that can somehow be tapped into by laying on of hands. He is bestowed by the bishop upon receipt of Confirmation; that’s true for all of us Catholics who have been confirmed.
I ceased my identification as a charismatic because they emphasize way too heavily the supposed importance of “experience”. Of course we thought it was a spiritual “experience” but in reality it was more of an emotional thrill. We were also erroneously urged to “let go” and not engage intellectually with what was happening to us as we “prayed”. Does anyone see THAT booby-trap? It took me a while, too. We are made in the image and likeness of God primarily through intellect and will. Our emotions, being in the realm of passions, are to be subservient to the intellect and will. Thanks to original sin, that order was usurped and has taken on pseudo-spiritual trappings. I saw mention of “resting in the spirit” a while back. There is a prime example of spiriutal danger (perhaps demonically inspired) being mistaken for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not knock people on the floor. When I saw that was a beginning of the blinders coming off my eyes.
Long way of saying that “charismatic” is at best extraneous and unnecessary. We have the Sacraments. We have the Magisterium. What more do we need? In fact, I’d say that a desire for something more than that is a dangerous lust for pseudo-spiritual (in actually, quite sensual) experience.

It is sad to see that you write in the flesh of emotion as you, if you read again will notice.
The Holy Spirit is not an emotive relationship but one of Love and encouragement.
Sadly to see it seems that you don’t any where seem to accept the fack that the TRUTH sets free and the GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT set free and we may NOT be ready to accept the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit at such a young age in confirmation.

Is it TRUTH you speak about or your own emotions that you never realy received because you may not have been able to let go of the flesh to understand or allow the Holy Spirit the ability of using you to bless God. the Holy Spirit is a gentle man and will not come unless invited I have been told by many of our catholic priests.

I joined the charismatic group 35 years ago and have now gone on tohe OCDS 3rd order of the Carmelites and love that. However not puting down (for those who want to give themself to the Holy Spirit to be used in using the gifts that set others free iin healing forgiveness ( I speak mainly of non catholics who don’t see going to a priest as part of their life at the time, but want to love God).

What is wrong with using the gifts of healing, forgiveness, deliverance and or others when the Holy Spirit is the giver of gifts and wants to use that person, is this not the reason why they are imparted on people?

It is Jesus who tells us in the bible that if one has a certain gift it does not say they are not equal or don’t have a place in the body. Jesus would not say this if it were not true.
God is TRUTH that we should Love one another regardless of place in the church, for they all come to make it up.

God bless
littleone

 

[the_7th_one]

A borderline protestant.

Not always. As a person who was involved with the Charismatic movement in the Catholic Church, I found it grew my love of the Eucharist and brought my prayer life a vitality, it has never known. I got away from it after becoming a parent because of time constraints.
I would not have ever called myself a Catholic Charimatic. A Catholic member of the Charismatic movement, yea maybe. The church has always diffrent expressions of Spirituality in the Church as long as the authority of the Church and the form of the Eucharest are respected. I tend to look on the Charismatic movement as a spirituality movement along the lines of say the Franciscan movement.

 

[littleone]

IMHO:

1. Catholics who participates in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal often call themselves charismatic Catholics.
2. A charismatic Catholic can be characterized as a Catholic who’s goal is to live more in the Spirit than in the flesh as Paul says “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2: 20) so as to live as much as they can in the fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4: 13).
3. God re-created, cleansed and sanctified, me through Baptism, healed my soul through reconciliation, made me strong through Confirmation, and sustains me daily with spiritual food at Eucharist.
4. I am first and foremost a child of God who has attended Life In the Spirit Seminars, prayer meetings, Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conferences, etc.
5. Through the New and Everlasting Covenant God wrote His law on my heart making my body a temple of the Holy Spirit. At Confirmation He anointed me in Christ with holy oil and the gifts were sealed within me. I cooperate with God in nurturing these gifts by practicing as much as God’s grace and my will accepts, the 7 virtues: Prudence, Justice,
   Fortitude, temperance, Faith, Hope, Charity.

Please correct me if I’m wrong with examples in scripture or oral tradition but if at baptism I received God’s Law, His Word, the Holy Spirit, and since the giver is greater than the gift, I also received the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Good for you , I may not go to a charismatic meeting (as such )but I live the gifts of the Holy Spirit or else why was there such a huge out poring of the Holy Spirit living on this earth in the 60 - 70s? It had to be God’s doing, man kind could not have done it and satan definitly would not have.
I use the gifts when asked and at times they just come on me to help others. Jesus tells us that "He would not leave us orphans, but had to leave so that the “Helper” could come, who would give us enlightenment and power. I’m not waiting for this to happen …it is here and we should not miss it, I for one want more and more of what God has for me.

I put the gifts with the Host, the forgiving of confession and the joining of Saint Vincent De,Paul (helping the poor) and I have almost every thing. AND look how much of this the world gave me…! Nothing at all God gave it all.

Peace
Godbless
littleone

 

[JoeyPio]

To BYERS:

Please read www.saint-mike.org/library/rule/excerpts/spiritual_gifts.asp www.catholichawaii.org/gifts/recognize.html www.staustin.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=278

All saints of the catholic church are charismatic. Study their biography and you will find extraordinary great things they did even beyond human capacity because of the spiritual gifts they received from God himself. Without which, they can do nothing.

Example: St. Nicolas of Bari – gift of giving ; St. Theresa of Calculta – Mercy (ministry for the dying); St. Padre Pio, St John Marie Vianey and Blessed Benoite – Reading of heart or soul(ministry of the soul or reconciliation); St. Martin de Porres and St. Vincent – areal flight; St. Lucy – growing back of her eye when it was removed by her torturer; St Benedict – protection against the devil or evil doers; St. Roach – Healing; St. Bernadette, Blessed Jacinta and Francisco Marto – Prayer; St. Bernard of Clairvaux – people follow what he says; St. Jerome – Interpretation of the original texts of the Bible; St, Vincent de Paul – charity works; St Therese of Child Jesus – suffering; and most are martyrs.

Everyone of us is given specific spiritual gift or charism as God wills. Without it, we can not participate or share in the Mission of Christ Jesus to bring about salvation to mankind though the life in the church.

The link above can help you find what specific gift you have received.

These classic example below is another way to find out I always tell to those who are earnest to find out, like you!

Before they have done the greatest ACT of their lifetime, they started with prayer - That is why those who discovered their gifts are all enjoying prayers because it is in prayer that they find intimacy with God. In it, they derive their strength, inspirations, instructions etc.

HOLY MOTHER MARY – In answer to St. Gabriel the Archangel, she said “I am the handmade of the Lord. Let it be done unto me according to His Will” What were her greatest ACT? She GAVE us in physical being Jesus Christ because of the gift of purity, humility and obedience. She endured and survived all pains in life and she PRESERVED the FAITH IN GOD even though the apostles left Jesus and the faith when He died. She was able to do these because of the gifts of fortitude and perseverance.

JESUS CHRIST – Started with the prayer, “ Let not this cup pass me… NOT MY WILL FATHER, BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE” He endured all sufferings and death but He also destroyed death and gave us everlasting life. His gifts were suffering and resurrection.

If you want, GOD himself to answer you, then, live in prayers and ask God about it not as you will but as to His will as much as possible.

Take a look at the prayers of the saints:

St. Therese of Child Jesus: “I am just a child and powerless, I offer you God myself to your divine justice”

St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina: “Lord, let me for the world, the way , the truth, and the life and for you God a perfect victim”

Blessed Jacinta & Francisco Marto and Lucia dos Santos: In an apparition of the Holy Mother Mary, she asked them: Do you offer yourselves to God, to endure all the suffering He pleases for the forgiveness of sins and conversion of sinners? They answered, “Yes, for the love of Jesus Christ”

Beautiful prayers, indeed. That is why they are called the “Victim Souls” because they joined Jesus Christ in his suffering and death.

My prayer is not original but a concoction of many other beautiful prayer that helped me understand what gifts I was given and I want to share it with you.

“O Most Holy Trinity, God the Father, Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit, I believe, I adore, I trust and I love you in the most blessed sacrament. Have mercy on me, Please forgive my sins. Instead, please come to me and possess my body soul and spirit that I may not offend you anymore. Purify me and make me a disciple of your will. I offer you my lifelong thanksgiving, praise and blessings because you are my Lord and my God. You are my creator, savior and sanctifier. Without you, I am nothing”

What Gift do I have? Deliverance (for lay) / Exorcism (for priest) – dealing with the influences of the devil.

A word of warning: in order not to be deceived, devote in any of the sacraments and always be under the guidance of the church.

Strongest effect for me in my ministry is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Holy Eucharist sustains my faith, hope and love. I do not go into action without receiving both or else, it’s a spiritual suicide. The Holy Rosary is always the best to start with. Recite it frequently if you can not do it on a daily basis.

“GOD IS TRULY ALIVE”. He communicates to us even on personal basis. Start your journey and enjoy your intimacy with GOD.

 

[BigRedpg51]

Dear Byers,

I’ve been a member of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal since 1988, and I’d like to put in my 2 cents worth on what it means to be called ‘charismatic’.

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal started in 1967 in an upper room at Dusquane University. A group of people thought that, if God could give the ‘gifts’ of the Holy Spirit to the Pentecostals – then why not us Catholics? So…they prayed for a deeper personal relationship with God – an indwelling of the Holy Spirit – and a changed life…changed for the better. And you know what? They got it! The gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12 started to manifest through this small band of Catholics.

A person usually enters the Charismatic Renewal through participation in a Life in the Spirit Seminar (also known as an LSS). Properly done, the LSS usually takes 8 weeks to complete – 1 day each week. The purpose of becoming charismatic is not just so that you can go around telling everyone that you have ‘this gift’ or ‘that gift’…but it is meant as an avenue to change your life to one that is more in tune with the subtle leadings of God…to divest yourself of ‘self’…and invite God each day to live His Holy Will through you.

Pope John Paul II spoke very favorably about the Charismatic Renewal, as does Fr. Gabriel Amorth – the chief exorcist of Rome.

Unfortunately, many people have been poorly trained in the Charismatic Renewal and consequently they think that it is all about ‘the gifts’. In truth, the manifestation of the spiritual gifts is only a tool that God uses – with the end goal being transformation of one’s life to a more Christ-like life.

Many people do not understand what the true nature and scope is of the different gifts of the Holy Spirit, and this results in them putting down charismatics as crazy people or fanatics. Some are…but most are not.

Regarding whether being a charismatic makes you a ‘better person’ than another…there is no proof of that. What makes you a better person than you were before you became charismatic is … submission to God’s Will – every day, in every way.

Also – and this is something that you probably won’t hear from other Charismatic Catholics – the Charismatic Renewal is only one of many ways to become closer to God. It is a stepping stone…that is all. It is a very powerful stepping stone, to be sure, if you adopt the correct thinking and attitude of humility regarding the giving up of ‘self’…however I’ve seen many many prayer groups that have died out due to pride issues. The devil is always lurking…waiting to prey upon those trying to get closer to God…and the Charismatic Catholics are a prime target!

All in all, though, I would encourage you to attend an LSS and see for yourself whether you find anything there that stirs you. It won’t cost you anything except a little of your time, and the potential spiritual benefits and growth are well worth the effort.

God bless you!
John

 

[JoeyPio]

Please … please… please! DO NOT CREDIT THE PROTESTANTS for the popularity of the charismatics or the actions of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The protestants were not yet around when the christian faith is being established by God through Jesus Christ and afterwards the Holy Spirit after the resurrection of Christ. It is the Holy Spirit who was sent after that time to lead us to the way the truth and the life established by God and materialized through Christ Jesus.

  Even in the beginning, so much of these gifts of the spirit are already at work. Starting from the Holy Mother Mary to the disciples and many of the followers aptly called the saints.  The cornerstone of every building block of our christian catholic faith is made up of the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to material life through our fore-parents' acceptance and living it even at the expense of their very earthy life.

 We owe them our faith now. The same spirit before is the same spirit now that is keeping us in the bosom of God as beloved children. It is US, the CATHOLIC CHURCH has the most ardent, joyful, fulfilling and eternal life giving experiences of the gifts of the Holy Spirit more than any other christian groups.

 

[JoeyPio]

Dear BYERS:

     UNDERSTANDING is a Gift of the Holy Spirit. I have a secret in attaining understanding. I wish it can help you too get it and be able to grasp what we are trying to say here.

     You are in the right track. Maintain all that body, soul and spirit bugling questions you have about the faith. Read or listen repeatedly as much as you can about it. Just go on.

     NOW, go to CONFESSION. MAKE A VERY GOOD CONFESSION. God's wonder will come. All that you have read, all that you have thought about and all that you have not come across before will be arranged systematically in you the way God wanted to reveal to you. That's it. No human formula can do that. Its only the Holy Spirit who can do that.

 

[JoeyPio]

God does not take away his consolation when He has given you the gift or you have found your gift. Needless to force yourself in prayers or rhetorics in order to sustain it. Better, USE THAT GIFT, whatever it is. REMEMBER, all gifts are good and necessary no matter how simple or terrible it is. It is always good for your salvation and for the salvation of mankind.
Once you are using it, no more fuzz, no more forcing things because everything becomes natural already. Good news - GOD'S CONSOLATION NEVER CEASES.

 

[TheRock88]

Let me assure you that the “charismatic” enjoys absolutely no advantage whatsoever when it comes to grace, spiritual vitality, etc. Why? Because we all have access to the Sacraments. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. He Himself is God; He is not some force or fire that can somehow be tapped into by laying on of hands.

I ceased my identification as a charismatic because they emphasize way too heavily the supposed importance of “experience”. Of course we thought it was a spiritual “experience” but in reality it was more of an emotional thrill. We were also erroneously urged to “let go” and not engage intellectually with what was happening to us as we “prayed”. Does anyone see THAT booby-trap? It took me a while, too. We are made in the image and likeness of God primarily through intellect and will. Our emotions, being in the realm of passions, are to be subservient to the intellect and will. Thanks to original sin, that order was usurped and has taken on pseudo-spiritual trappings. I saw mention of “resting in the spirit” a while back. There is a prime example of spiriutal danger (perhaps demonically inspired) being mistaken for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not knock people on the floor. When I saw that was a beginning of the blinders coming off my eyes. Long way of saying that “charismatic” is at best extraneous and unnecessary. We have the Sacraments. We have the Magisterium. What more do we need? In fact, I’d say that a desire for something more than that is a dangerous lust for pseudo-spiritual (in actually, quite sensual) experience.

For Janet Baker: I would just like to make a couple of points.

1.John PAul II was an advocate of the charismatic Renewal. This quote is from the special hour and a half audience with the Pope in Vatican City on December 11, 1979:

“… I have always belonged to this renewal in the Holy Spirit. . . . I am convinced that this movement is a sign of his action. The world is much in need of this action of the Holy Spirit, and it needs many instruments for this action. . . . Through this action, the Holy Spirit comes to the human spirit, and from this moment we begin to live again, to find our very selves, to find our identity, our total humanity. Consequently, I am convinced that this movement is a very important component in the total renewal of the church, in this spiritual renewal of the church.”

This quote is from the Pope’s private audience on May 15, 1987.

"This year [1987] marks the 20 th anniversary of the charismatic renewal in the Catholic Church. The vigor and fruitfulness of the renewal certainly attest to the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit at work in the Church in these years after the Second Vatican Council. "

1. Letting go: I dont know exactly what they meant by ‘letting go’, but there are plenty of examples within the faith where we must let go, and indeed a number of prayer forms which require it. Contemplation, a higher prayer form that many saints and mystics experienced, requires letting go and suspending the intellect. It is actually a more receptive state where God can infuse knowledge that is far beyond what the recipient is capable of arriving at through the use of their intellect. Centring prayer is another prayer form which requires letting go and suspending the intellect.
2. Tongues is a prayer form that requires begginners to let go of inhibitions and not annalyse the jibberish that comes from their mouth when acquiring the gift. Because if you were to think about it too much, you’d think yourself a fool and wouldnt do it. Charismatics didnt make up the rules regarding tongues, the Holy Spirit did. And if you’re closed to tongues, you close yourself off to all the other gifts that require its use: gifts of the Spirit that God wants you to have, and receive through because He loves you. But ‘the thief comes to rob and destroy’. The devil will do his best to keep you from receiving these gifts and blessings.
3. Proof of validity tongues: On a personal level, i have received countless prayers where those laying hands have used tongues. And many times the person praying has received ‘a word of knowledge’ whilst praying in tongues over me. A word of knowledge is where the person praying may receive a ‘word’ that is helpful to the person being prayed with. It is supernatural in origin and many times the proof is the fact that the person praying has no personal knowledge of the what the word means to the recipient.(many times its a stranger praying for you) Further, i have recieved personal healings where the use of tongues was always involved. Jesus said to ‘lay your hands on the sick and they will be healed’. I have experienced this and know many people who have been healed this way: amazing stories such as being healed of cancer, women becoming pregnant where it was medically impossible, lumps disappearing etc.

See next post for the rest